Trump Tax Break Gives $40 Billion to Corporations

$40.2 billion

A congressional report finds the wealthiest Americans will benefit the most from President Trump’s tax deduction for owners of “pass-through” businesses, NBC News reports. “The deduction, which ranges up to 20 percent, will shower $40.2 billion in tax breaks on owners of pass-throughs — largely businesses owned by an individual or a partnership, or those ‘S’ corporations that kick income and losses to shareholders for tax purposes — in 2018, the Joint Committee on Taxation estimated. The provision was included in the larger overhaul of tax rates enacted in December.”

More Voters See Trump as Representing the GOP

43%

A Politico/Morning Consult poll finds that 43% of voters believe President Trump represents the majority viewpoint of Republicans in Washington, compared with 37% who said he does not. … That’s a net swing of 20 points from a August poll when 47% said Trump did not represent the viewpoint of most Republicans, and 33% said he did. This is important: Trump promised to “drain the swamp,” but now voters see him as part of the swamp.

Christie to Commission $85,000 Official Governor Portrait

$85,000

Bergen County Record: “To most people, the image that sums up Chris Christie’s time as governor is the picture of him on that beach closed to everyone else, in that chair with his family and friends while the public was shut out of state parks on a holiday weekend during a government shutdown. … The image that Christie wants to officially mark his time as governor and the one that the public is paying for will be painted by an Australian artist whose portrait portfolio includes royalty and an international pop star — and whose fee comes with the highest price tag yet for New Jersey taxpayers. At a total of $85,000, Christie’s portrait will cost more than what his three predecessors combined paid to have their images hang in commemoration of their political service.”